structured days

how many of you try to structure your days? (outside of morning and night rooteens)

I try to: I like to know what I'm doing, when I'm doing it. it allows the day to go quicker and me not to get bored.

plus everything has it's place. I don't get to the end of the day thinking I didn't get to do this or that, because I've skeduled in time for it

really like structured days

Yes, I structure every day. I feel safer keeping to a schedule. I am somewhat flexible in the morning, however, because of sleep/meds. Still, I have my mornings structured in the sense that there's "plan A and plan B."

I try to structure the day, but it all falls apart when I get depressed, because I am unable to find the werewithal to take much action. So, the plan usually ends up basically worthless.

I like to have structure. It works for most things that are home-related. Work is so much harder for me right now because I'm in transition between positions. So I'm in flux. Home, I can lay pills out, and move my work-at-home table out so its ready for me in the morning, or lay my clothes out in the morning. I'm pretty regimented. But its work that's hard. I think I'm rambling because of sleeping pills.

Everyday is pretty much the same for me as for structure..

I get up and Clean every day, I cook daily, I shower daily ,take care of my dogs and my husband.

If I dont have those constants in my life, the structure..... I would spiral into hell quickly

I've tried structure, but it doesn't work when I'm too depressed. It just makes me frustrated when I can't keep up with my schedule. Currently I'm doing the opposite: I just work when I feel like it and otherwise I do other things like work on my own projects or just slack off for a bit. It sounds really lazy but I actually get more work done that way because when I feel like I don't "have to" it takes off the pressure and the anxiety and makes it easier to get up and do something. This is basically how I worked throughout all my university degrees, my PhD, and my work since then. It works very well for me although I have felt like a slacker the whole time. Obviously it only works if you have flexible hours. And I do have to be careful to not fall into the trap of working at nights or in the weekends too much because that leads to instability in my experience.

I do better with structure. Not necessarily really regimented, but there's got to be something. If I'm not working and don't have errands to occupy me, I can really fritter time away badly. (So you can guess how much I didn't get done under quarantine... ) Expectations of others helps too. I could make a nice little schedule, but along comes any little reason, and off course I go. But if someone is expecting something of me (like to show up), I feel compelled. So work is good for me. (And I'm glad to be in a place where that is do-able. This was not always the case, and I had to anyway. Thankfully, I had savings to get me through the very worst time when I utterly couldn't).

This is precisely how I live right now. it is really all I am able to do.I try not to judge myself.

Hey, IZ--are you working right at the moment?

Oh yes. Been back for about a month. We've been on the PPP, but that's all done now. We may be going into the work share (think that's the name) program and doing fewer days a week (currently full time --my first truly full time job in all these years(!)). That's ok. Whatever it takes to stay afloat. Business has been decent. It's scary to think it might just be a bubble, so I don't think about it(!) Gotta take this as it comes.

As a side note, I asked for a raise (for only the second time in my life I think -- self-esteem issues...), saying "after this settles out", but was given it now(!!) Quite proud of myself for asking. Holy cow, the issues I have with asking for things...

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Some structure is important but too much might stress me out. I try to keep a light routine even if it is just meals; with at least one must do to get me out of bed and it makes me feel accomplished. A little sad.

What's sad is that psych professionals (hamstrung by the insurance companies) dont insist that their clients get aerobic exercise. DBSA has a great worksheet online called the Wellness Wheel. The professionals in general suck at diagnoses, especially for bipolars. The great selection of workbooks on Amazon and Psych Central have helped me more than the so-called professionals in a long life with mental illness. You name it, Amazon has a workbook for it. That's a helpful kind of structure for these crazy times. Hugs, everyone, dont forget to be registered and to vote!